Hearts Women secured guaranteed European football for the first time in their history and maintained their four point lead at the summit of the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League with a 2-1 away win over Celtic in Hamilton on Sunday.
Georgia Timms put Hearts ahead with an expert finish before Saoirse Noonan’s leveller from the penalty spot. But a strike from Lauren Wade just before half-time made the difference as the Jambos went on to record their first ever away victory against Celtic.
Eva Olid made three changes from the 3-0 win over Partick Thistle last time out.
Danique Ypema replaced skipper Georgia Hunter in defence, while Georgia Timms and Sade Adamolekun came in for Jenna Slattery and Kayla Jardine.
Hearts started the match promisingly and saw plenty of the ball during the early exchanges, a rare sight during a visit to Hamilton to face Celtic.
Sade Adamolekun sent in a corner from the right which found Joely Andrews at the edge of the box. She hit a low strike but couldn’t generate enough power to trouble Lisa Rodgers in goal for the hosts.
Just after, Poppy Pritchard sprinted into the Hearts box and struck one on her left foot, which was sliced wide of the target.
Up the other end, Jess Husband made a great block to deny a potential goal for Grant Scott’s side. Rabjohn fizzed in a low cross from the right looking to find Pritchard in the middle, but Husband arrived in the nick of time to block it brilliantly.
The women in maroon got themselves ahead in the 14th minute. Carly Girasoli floated a fantastic ball over the top and Georgia Timms latched on to it to fire home into the bottom right corner for 1-0.
Celtic then came close to a leveller in the 20th minute. Pritchard sent in a floated cross to the back post to Evie Rabjohn who headed narrowly wide of the target.
The hosts were awarded a penalty just before the half hour mark after former Jambo Lisa Robertson was brought down in the box. Saoirse Noonan then stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom left corner for 1-1.
The Jam Tarts reclaimed the lead before the break. Sade Adamolekun played a fantastic through ball for Lauren Wade to chase in behind, spotted Rodgers far off her line which allowed her to pick her spot as she slotted home into the bottom right corner for 2-1.
Half-time: Celtic 1-2 Hearts
Hearts had a huge chance to make it three in the 57th minute. Timms played Johns in behind the Celtic backline, she drove into the box before her effort rattled off the crossbar. Both Timms and Adamolekun went for the follow-up, as Timms’ effort was scuffed over the bar in the end.
The Jam Tarts kept control in a second half with very few clear cut chances for either side, and went on to secure a massive three points in the title race.
Celtic: Rodgers, Walsh, Robertson, Pritchard, Rabjohn, Wilde, Luke, Noonan, O’Hanlon, Nakao
Subs: Gay, Gallacher, Smith, McGregor, Westin, Lawton, Duncan, Morrison, Dawson
Hearts: Johnstone, Ypema, J. Husband, E. Husband, Timms ©, Adamolekun (Forsyth, 63’), Wade (Richards, 78’), Dolan (Shore, 63’), Andrews, Girasoli, Johns (Jardine, 88’)
Subs: Thomson, Hunter, Fulton, Forsyth, Shore, Jardine, Richards, Burn, Chomczuk
